Think back on your career. Have you ever received too much recognition for the good work you have done? Have you provided too much recognition for the good work of others? The answer to both questions is probably “NO.” Experience tells us that providing too much recognition isn’t an issue [...]

What does a snail say when riding on the back of a tortoise? WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Besides being one of my favorite jokes ever, it also a reminder about the importance of perspective as you view the generation that makes up the majority of the workforce today and will grow to 75 [...]

Building a business that lasts is the exception rather than the rule. Fifty percent of start-ups fail within the first five years. That number drops the longer you stay open, but even then, building a sustainable business requires a unique combination of skill and luck. Fortune 500 companies last, on [...]

A former high school classmate recently greeted me with this comment, “You look exactly the same. You haven’t changed a bit.” My initial reaction was gratitude for the kind words and a moment of pride that I had apparently held up exceptionally well over the decades since our last encounter. [...]

Your business didn’t start out with the intent to become lethargic and ultimately irrelevant. It began with an idea that would provide a product or service that is faster, better, cheaper, or friendlier than your competitors. Sometimes that idea was an enhancement of what currently existed in the marketplace. Other [...]

Depending on your preferred quote, the truth will make you miserable, make you mad, and set you free … but not until it is finished with you. I take no comfort in contradicting James Garfield, Aldous Huxley, David Foster Wallace, and especially Jesus. The truth, however, cannot exercise its enormous [...]

Take a moment to answer this question: How do you build and sustain a culture of commitment, accountability, engagement, and results? Did your list contain hiring for fit, coaching and developing people, providing an engaging environment, providing feedback, open communication, creating a sense of community, and offering competitive pay and [...]